The third series of Karate Kid spin off Cobra Kai arrived on Netflix a little earlier than planned, which gave its army of loyal fans a kick. And a chop and a punch.
Although the story focusing on the washed-up villain from the original film has been a guilty pleasure, the new series has struggled to reach the sheer fun, macho silliness of the first two runs, and I’m struggling to work out why.
Catching up with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and especially William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence has been the real pleasure.
Dopey Johnny was a terrifying antagonist back in the ’80s. An entitled blond rich kid who struck first, struck hard and without mercy, as per his cult-like dojo’s motto, and struck fear into the heart of every weedy kid.
Zabka’s avian features and pitch-perfect snarl in the decades since turned into a haggard scowl.
He is slowly morphing from thuggish luddite into a slightly less thuggish luddite. As they say on Schitt’s Creek, I love that journey for you.
But Jonny and Daniel are being weighed down by the teen drama. Rival factions of handsome high-kicking youths just come across like the cast of Dawson’s Creek were accidentally sent the script for Enter The Dragon.
Really, can series four just focus on Jonny and Daniel travelling around solving karate crimes?
Cobra Kai, Netflix
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